APC64 Ableton Live Controller | Touch the Future | Akai Professional

video upload by AkaiProVideo

"Touch the Future and discover new musical possibilities with APC64. With 64 vibrant RGB pads featuring poly-aftertouch, 8 assignable Touch Strips, and a standalone Step Sequencer, APC64 is the revolutionary Ableton Live hardware controller that will unveil a new world of musical inspiration for next-level production and performance.

Watch prolific finger drumming performer Carl Rag display a masterful exhibition of APC64 now.

Visit https://www.akaipro.com/apc64.html now to learn more about APC64 or to find a dealer near you."

Akai APC64 First Look - Sonic LAB Presentation

video upload by sonicstate

"The brand new APC64, switches things up with a deeply integrated 64 RGB pad type surface, that Push users will feel right at home with. But with the APC64, you also get 8 assignable Touch Strips, with multiple modes of usage - you can control, the mixer, FX sends Devices and generic MIDI CCs, as well as the 64 RGB, pressure and velocity sensitive pads for clip launching or sequencing.

The other big news is that APC64 also has a standalone mode with 8 sequencers, up to 32 steps each that can send note data over MIDI via the two minijack outputs (there's also a MIDI input) and 8 assignable CV or Gate 1/8th inch jack outs to control your external synths, or modular.

Power is supplied over USB-C, with a dedicated power switch, and there's a small but useful AMOLED display and rotary encoder for parameter access, although you can access most via the pads themselves in setup mode.

There are also dedicated Project memories for storing setups and sequences - these can be chained for more song type structures.

The on board sequencer can be used as a standalone device, or integrated into the Live setup with patterns that can be sent back to Live and auto create clips.

We had a visit from Tom Robinson (@duncan_thomas_music) to give us the low down in this first look at the unit.

APC64 will be available worldwide at a price of £359 MSRP

00:45 Overview and Live integration
3:30 Touchstrips, Note and Drum Modes
5:50 Connections
06:30 Ableton Live integration
08:50 Generic MIDI control
09:30 Internal Sequencer
11:23 Standalone mode"

AKAI APC64 Review // Pros and cons vs APC40 MK2, Push, LaunchPad and others // APC 64 tutorial

video upload by loopop

TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:40 Overview
2:05 Grid modes
4:30 Fader modes
6:30 Seq mode
8:40 Buttons
9:35 Screen
10:35 Build
11:00 I/O
11:50 Note mode
12:45 Chord mode
13:20 Drum modes
14:00 Ableton Live
14:30 Live rec
15:15 Quantization
16:05 Automation
17:00 Step seq
17:45 Seq settings
18:40 Modifiers
20:10 Seq live rec
21:45 Performance
22:15 Important tips
22:25 Poly AT v MPE
23:00 Device params
23:50 More buttons!
25:20 Device lock?
25:55 Seq + Live
26:40 Note repeats?
26:55 Latency
27:30 Pros and cons
32:15 Outro

Error drum 2

video upload by errorinstruments paul tas

"Simple, affordable, crunchy. Available in DIY workshop, but also assembled from the website.  this will be released as a workshop in Leipzig 28th of October. And in Tokyo sooon"

Moog Matriarch - Ambient Cinematic Pad: Space Melancholia (Strymon BigSky)

video upload by lucafrancinimusic

"Moog Matriarch into Strymon BigSky in Shimmer mode, for some lush cinematic pads."

Introducing nanobox | tangerine

video upload by 1010music

"Get powerful sampling capabilities in the nanobox form factor. With the
sampling features of nanobox | tangerine, you can add interesting new ways
of generating sound and music to your desktop or travel rig. Trigger one
shots, play time synced loops or record live looping. The nanobox |
tangerine can use one shots to play hip rhythms, or huge multi-samples to
play soulful melodic tunes.

Sweet and Tangy Sampling
The nanobox | tangerine delivers powerful sampling in an ultra-portable form
factor. With this nanobox, you can add recording, sample playback, clip
launching, slicing, and musically intelligent looping capabilities to your
desktop or travel rig. With an intuitive touch screen interface, nanobox |
tangerine makes easy work of selecting, editing, and tweaking your samples.
You can stream large samples of up to 4 GB file size straight from the
microSD card. Interact with other musical components via MIDI. Load
multi-sample banks with over 500 samples for amazing instrument
reproduction. Tweak your configurations to get them just right, then save
them to multiple presets for future reuse."

Water, Chord Pilot & Pianophonic

video upload by knobula

"Generative Arpeggios From Chord Pilot & Pianophonic with quasi-random voltage sequences generated by Jasmine & Olives Trees's Water sequencer"

RYK Modular Night Rider Review

video upload by Molten Music Technology

Sound demo here

"Night Rider is a Quad Sequential Resonator, or a bunch of bandpass filters in a beautifully realised interface of scanning LEDs. I'll take you through everything I found from wobbles, to sweeps, flanging to pings, formants to strikes."

A QUICK TEST : SOLTON DISCO 64

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Before the Solton Programmer 24 - the by now fairly well-known Italo Disco machine - there was the Solton Disco 64.

After picking up this beautiful and mega rare species in Perugia not too long ago I filmed the first 10 minutes of trying it out and reacquainting myself with its perks.

I needed to touch up on how these work - which maybe isn’t as straight forward as it should be.

I already have another unit here but haven’t used it in a long time since it started emitting smoke a few years back. The machine has some minor scratchy pots but is otherwise working fairly well - every time something we buy isn't completely dead is kind of a miracle.

The Wah chord sound doesn’t sound right so that will be taken care of - it's in the shop for a check-up and a re-cap of the power supply and a few other minor interventions as we speak.

This is a nice, heavy chunk of a machine (main unit Is 16 kilos) in a brown faux leather suitcase with saloon style wood details, this is not really a disco machine per se - quite a few machines featured Disco in their names for no other reason than the hype and coolness of the genre at the time.

But this is a unique auto-accompaniment beast none the less - with a great sounding analog string machine, an analog, monophonic bass synth with filters, different chord sounds and of course a drum machine with individual sound mute options.

You can play the string machine and bass synth alone and independently from the auto comp section."

Sebastian - The MIDI crab

video upload by Love Hultén

"Solenoid based MIDI crab combined with a customized Volca FM2 synth"

Waldorf Introduces Iridium Core - Smaller Quantum / Iridium Based Desktop Synthesizer

video upload by WaldorfMusicChannel

"Iridium Core" introduced by Panic Girl

video upload by WaldorfMusicChannel

JakoJako about integrating the new "Iridium Core" into her modular setup

video upload by WaldorfMusicChannel

Iridium Core - Sound Demo

video upload by WaldorfMusicChannel







The Core

Iridium Core provides the core synthesis engine of the Quantum / Iridium platform. It is the heart of Waldorf's most advanced hardware-based synthesis. The essence of forward-looking sound. The Core.

Sonic Explorer

Iridium Core contains 5 synthesis engines: Wavetable, Multi- & Granular-Sampling, Waveform, Kernel FM and Resonator. Combined with a broad selection of digital filter and processing options Iridium Core lets you explore a huge sonic universe of electronic sound. Iridium Core's intuitive and easy graphical interface helps you to keep your flow of creativity.

Wave Traveller

The compact form factor makes Iridium Core an ideal companion to travel with you to all your sonic explorations and performances. It fits well into laptop size bags and in carry on-baggage it leaves enough space to all your other devices you need for your performances.

Driven by Inspiration

Iridium Core comes with a huge collection of more than 1700 factory presets and samples to drive your sonic Wanderlust. Get inspired what the broad and diverse array of sound designers have created to fuel your musical endeavours.

Team Player

Iridium Core integrates into various live performance and studio setups. Its connects with your modular synths, drum machines, sequencers and computers. The compact form factor fits well into your tabletop or space limited setups.

Family Member

Iridium Core shares the same software platform like Quantum, Iridium Desktop & Iridium Keyboard. All instruments are powered by the Waldorf synthesiser OS and will receive joint updates. Thus, the whole family participates from future enhancements and developments.


Press Release follows:

Waldorf genuinely gets right to the heart of its Iridium synthesizer product line by introducing Iridium Core as small form factor variant

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha Introduces New Montage M - Next Gen Flagship Synthesizer - Overview & Sound Demos

video upload by Yamaha Synths Official

Curious if Yamaha will ever re-introduce their Formant & fseqs synth engine found on the FS1R. The FS1R was crippled by the UI.

Yamaha | Montage M Sound Demo
video upload by Yamaha Synths Official

"Enjoy this sound demo video showcasing sounds available in the new Yamaha MONTAGE M Series Synthesizers.

0:00 - 0:36 : AN-X Syn Orch Pat - AN-X Poly Synth with Polyphonic Aftertouch
0:37 - 1:00 : Hamburg Grand - AWM 2 Concert Grand Piano
1:01 - 1:19 : Sweet Synths - AN-X Poly Synth
1:20 - 1:48 : RD 67 Smooth - AWM2 1967 Tines E. Piano
1:49 - 2:10 : Classic Mini Sawlead - AN-X Mono Lead
2:11 - 2:35 C7 + Analog String Ensemb - AWM2 Yamaha C7 Grand Piano + AN-X String Ensemble
2:36 - 2:55 : Poly Dreams - AN-X Poly Synth
2:56 - 3:10 : SFZ Tremolo BPM Sync - AWM2 Tremolo Strings
3:11 - 3:49 : Distant Memories - AN-X Poly Synth
3:50 - 4:11 : Drawbar Organ - AWM2 Organ with YC Series VCM Rotary Speaker effect
4:12 - 4:29 : FM Piano + Soft Pad - FM-X E.Piano + Soft Pad
4:30 - 4:45 : Synthpop Forever - AN-X Poly Synth
4:46 - 5:05 : U1 Upright - AWM2 Yamaha U1 Upright Piano
5:06 - 5:31 : Dum Drum Bass - FM-X + AWM2 Poly Synth

Yamaha presents our next-generation flagship Synthesizer: MONTAGE M. Featuring three engines that create a variety of sounds – ultra-realistic instruments, vintage analog synths, and cutting-edge FM synths. For keyboardists, synthesists, and pianists, MONTAGE M seamlessly bridges stage and studio, unlocking new possibilities for sound, control and workflow."

NEW AN-X ENGINE

A revolution in authentic analog sound, control and behavior, the AN-X engine recreates the warm, classic sound of an analog synthesizer with a host of sophisticated modulation options.

･Three Oscillators with 5 waveforms (Saw 1, Saw2, Triangle, Square and Sine) and Noise Generator

･Two filters with 10 filter types

･Pulse width modulation

･Oscillator Self Sync

･Ring modulation, FM, and wave shaper

･Amp EG with drive

･LFO for both amplitude and filter,

･Voltage drift and aging settings to simulate vintage synth behavior

Integrated into the Motion Control system, the AN-X Engine allows you to create expressive, unique analog sounds to your heart’s content.

Improved AWM2
Experience realism and detail with MONTAGE M’s improved AWM2. Offering an incredible 128 Elements per part, AWM2 allows for smoother transitions, giving you an expansive canvas for ultra-high-definition sound creation, especially for “nameable” sounds such as piano and strings.

400 NOTE TOTAL POLYPHONY
A significant upgrade from the original MONTAGE’s 256 notes, MONTAGE M offers up to 400 notes of polyphony across its three engines:

･128 notes for AWM2 Preset Waveform Parts

･128 notes for AWM2 User Waveform Parts

･128 notes for FM-X Parts

･16 notes for AN-X Parts

And more about sound
AND MORE
[PRESET WAVE AND FLASH MEMORY UPGRADE] MONTAGE M offers twice the memory over its predecessor with an increase from 5.67GB to 9.97GB of Preset Wave memory, and an increase from 1.75 to 3.8GB of User flash memory. Plus, you’ll find a host of new sounds and instruments, including pianos, orchestral instruments, drums, and more!

[FM-X] MONTAGE M rekindles the Yamaha legacy of expressive and dynamic FM Synthesis with its 8-operator FM-X engine, offering a wide variety of diverse tones: from crisp and bell-like, to edgy and aggressive, to mellow and evolving. This is an excellent complement to the AWM2 and AN-X engines.

[VCM ROTARY AND DRAWBAR BEHAVIOR] Using sophisticated modeling technology, the VCM Rotary Speaker effect simulates the rich and enveloping motion of a classic rotary speaker cabinet. Plus, the new organ drawbar fader setting simulates the vintage “pull out” drawbar organ behavior.

[16 LIBRARY LOCATIONS] With 16 Library slots at your disposal, you can house up to 10,240 additional Performances (that’s in addition to the over 2,700 performances in the presets), facilitating quick searches by Category, Name and Attributes.

[PURE ANALOG CIRCUIT 2] The upgraded Pure Analog Circuit included in MONTAGE M reduces noise and improves the dynamic range, crosstalk, low-frequency phase, and distortion rate, resulting in clearer sound at all volumes. You’ll also find the sound has more detailed low-mids and presence.

GEX ACTION WITH POLYPHONIC AFTERTOUCH (MONTAGE M8x ONLY)
Available exclusively on MONTAGE M8x, GEX Action elevates your performance and sound creation with Polyphonic Aftertouch – a revered synth control found in the legendary CS-80 and DX1. Polyphonic Aftertouch allows you to individual modulate held notes with pressure. GEX also provides key repetition behavior typically found in grand pianos.

NEW PERFORMANCE CONTROLS
MONTAGE M introduces new performance controls: a 5-segment ribbon controller with dedicated HOLD button, a new KEYBOARD HOLD button for sustaining chords while using knobs to edit, and a Portamento on/off button and dedicated Portamento time knob.

DEDICATED KEYBOARD, PART AND SCENE CONTROL
You’ll find dedicated Keyboard, Part and Scene Control buttons to control 16 Parts per Performance. This intuitive control, particularly beneficial for live performances, improves overall usability and adds dimension to each Performance.

AND MORE
[HIGH-RESOLUTION CONTROL] All the Performance Controls – from the Keyboard and Faders to the Super Knob and Sustain, as well as the Sound Engine, are now in High Resolution. Because of the fine resolution, you’ll find the MONTAGE M behaves in a smoother and more “analog” way.

[MOTION CONTROL SYNTHESIS ENGINE]This groundbreaking engine allows you to interact with sounds in a variety of ways, including Motion Sequences, which dynamically automate synth and effect parameters, and can even be synchronized to tempo; the Super Knob, which controls dozens of modulations in a single gesture; the Envelope Follower, which modulates sound from the A/D input or another Part; and many, many more ways!

[NEW AND IMPROVED LED LIGHTS AND COLORS] Enhanced LED lights and colors on MONTAGE M faders, Performance, Live Set and Category Search offer visible, instant feedback, vastly improving the user interface.

WORKFLOW
Expanded Creativity

EXPANDED SOFTSYNTH PLUGIN (E.S.P.) (COMING EARLY 2024)
A game-changer for musicians, the Expanded Softsynth Plugin (E.S.P.) replicates the MONTAGE M in your favorite Digital Workstation (DAW). Free for all registered MONTAGE M owners, E.S.P. allows you to create, edit and mix MONTAGE M Performances anywhere you happen to be – without the hardware – offering an unprecedented level of stage and studio integration. We are planning on releasing E.S.P. in Early 2024. The first version will have all the MONTAGE M sound while being limited to basic editing. The full version will be available in Summer 2024.

FASTER, MORE INTUITIVE NAVIGATION
Upgraded navigation enables quick, intuitive sound editing and operation. You’ll find features like a new 512 x 64 LCD screen, 6 touchscreen display knobs, and a PAGE JUMP button that moves what’s in the LCD screen over to the larger 7” TFT Color touchscreen for deeper editing. And the dedicated Navigation button shows an overview of a Performance. Just touch a graphical object in the screen to jump to that parameter for deeper editing. The dedicated Navigation button allows you go directly from the “surface” of a sound to the deepest part.

USB MIDI AND MULTICHANNEL AUDIO INTERFACE
Simplifying your studio setup, MONTAGE M offers a USB MIDI and multichannel 32 output/6 input audio interface. Streamline MIDI recording, virtual instrument monitoring, and multi-track audio recording through a single USB cable, so you can spend more time being creative.

AND MORE
[FASTER UI] MONTAGE M’s UI is significantly speedier than the previous generation. Plus, the overall look is cleaner and easier to see.

[CATEGORY SEARCH] Search for Performances by Category (Piano, Keyboard, etc.), Sub Category (Acoustic, Vintage, etc.),Name, and Attributes (AWM2, FM-X, AN-X, etc.).

[TWO USB-TO-DEVICE PORTS] Allows simultaneous connection of a flash drive (or drives!) and USB MIDI controllers.

[DEDICATED DAW REMOTE BUTTON] Use your MONTAGE M as a hardware controller for DAWs such as Cubase, Logic, ProTools and Live. Control the mixer, transport, softsynth plugins and more.

[NEW SHIFT BUTTONS] Two new Shift buttons make it effortless to access secondary functions, increasing overall functionality.

[COLOR-CODED BUTTONS and SLIDER LAMPS] Backlit LIVE SET and CATEGORY buttons are colored differently and clearly show mode function. New slider lamps show red LED value increments, while active Parts are illuminated in blue.

Click the pics to zoom in.

CLICK FOR MORE »